How long must drivers wait for a pedestrian before they can turn?

Must motorists wait for pedestrians to cross the entire crosswalk before turning? (seattlepi.com file photo)

Q: When a stoplight turns green, the pedestrian crossing also turns to “go” and drivers wanting to turn have to wait for the pedestrians. Do the drivers have to wait for all pedestrians to finish crossing the full street, or is it OK to make the turn once the driver’s side of the road is clear (and the pedestrians are only in front of the cars in the opposing direction)?

A: State Trooper Chris Webb says state law is a little funny on this, but breaks it down:

Drivers must yield to the pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk:

“…when the pedestrian or disabled person is upon or within one (1) lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For purposes of this section, ‘half of the roadway’ means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one (1) direction of travel and includes the entire width of a one-way roadway.”

So if there is only one lane in each direction, the driver must yield to the pedestrian till they clear the roadway. However, if there are two lanes in each direction, the driver may proceed when the pedestrian is in the curb-most “lane” of the opposing traffic.

Clear as mud?

Perhaps when in doubt, yield. But tell that to the drivers downtown.

Check out other pedestrian-related laws:

Photo: Paul Joseph Brown / seattlepi.com file photo

Image 1of/13

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 13

Q: Does a crosswalk have to be marked for people to legally cross the street?

A: No.

State law defines a crosswalk thusly:

“'Crosswalk' means the portion of the roadway between the intersection area and a prolongation or connection of the farthest sidewalk line or in the event there are no sidewalks then between the intersection area and a line ten feet therefrom, except as modified by a marked crosswalk."

State law says drivers must stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway within a crosswalk, unmarked or marked.

But state law also says that no pedestrian or bicycle can suddenly leave a curb and move into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the driver to stop.

A: Cyclists riding on a sidewalk or public path shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian and must give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian, Seattle Police spokesman Jeff Kappel said.

Riders who don’t do so violate a city ordinance, though statistics on how often riders are ticketed were not immediately available.

Here are details from the lake’s courtesy code, designed by the parks department. The inner asphalt path is 2.8 miles; the perimeter path is 3.2 miles, according to the parks department.

Walkers and joggers are asked to use the inside lane and travel clockwise, facing bicyclists.

Cyclists and skaters are asked to use the outside lane (farthest from the lake) and travel counterclockwise. They’re also asked to keep to the right, yield to pedestrians and cycle or skate in single file.

“The outer lane was supposed to be one way clockwise only, but the soft surface and inner lane were to be two-way use,” Potter said.

Q: I see drivers after school is dismissed go around school crossing guards. Is that against the law, or can they do that because the crossing guards are just students?

A: It’s illegal to disobey a school patrol, even if the crossing guards are students.

According to state law, it’s illegal for a driver “to fail to stop his vehicle when directed to do so by a school patrol sign or signal displayed by a member of the school patrol engaged in the performance of his duty and wearing or displaying appropriate insignia.”

It’s also illegal for a driver “to disregard any other reasonable directions of a member of the school patrol when acting in performance of his duties as such.”

The fine? $124.

But members of a school patrol and their supervisors are subordinate to a “peace officer present and having jurisdiction,” according to state law.

The Seattle Municipal Code prohibits pedestrians from crossing an arterial street other than in a crosswalk except upon the following portions of streets within the Pike Place Market Historical District:

Q: If a pedestrian is ... waiting to cross at an uncontrolled intersection (a side street with no traffic signal or stop sign), am I required to stop for them? If so, what’s the penalty if I don’t?

A: Says Seattle Police Detective Jeff Kappel:

At an uncontrolled intersection, if a pedestrian is standing on the sidewalk or off of the roadway and has not stepped out onto the roadway so as to indicate an intention to cross the street, vehicular traffic is not required to stop.

However, once the pedestrian steps or is in the act of stepping into the street, he/she has indicated an intention to cross the street and vehicular traffic must come to a complete stop and allow the pedestrian to cross.

Once the pedestrian is half way across the street, the motorist may proceed with caution.

The fine for failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian is $124 if there is no collision. If there is an accident, the fine is $191.

Q: The legal blood-alcohol limit for driving a car is .08. But what’s the level for walking down a Seattle street? Is there a limit and can people be ticketed for walking down the street drunk?

A: “The answer is no,” Seattle Police spokesman Sean Whitcomb said. “We are glad that people would choose to walk rather than drive drunk. In the interest of safety, consider walking your intoxicated friends home.

“People are vulnerable when intoxicated, and there are potential hazards to pedestrians that might be difficult to avoid when under the influence of alcohol. You could even say that friends don’t let friends walk drunk.”

The state law outlining disorderly conduct doesn’t mention walking drunk.

Several bars in Seattle and surrounding cities provide vouchers for a free cab ride home for intoxicated patrons.

Q: In the absence of a crosswalk, where can a pedestrian legally cross a street or intersection?

A: Seattle Police's Kappel says, “The safe and legal place to cross a street in the absence of a marked crosswalk is within 10 feet from the actual corner of the intersection of two streets.”

“Diagonal crossings at intersections are prohibited,” he adds.

Seattle municipal code and state law make additional clarifications on what is and is not OK while crossing the street.

For example, it’s illegal for a pedestrian to step right in front of a moving vehicle – but let’s hope you wouldn’t do that, anyway. Additionally, pedestrians aren’t allowed to cross the roadway between adjacent intersections with working traffic control signals, except in a marked crosswalk.

“If they step off the curb after the hand is flashing, they’re essentially jaywalking,” she said.

The fine is $56.

Police acknowledge that they see people enter crosswalks after the orange hand flashes. But because of staffing levels, don’t expect to see police at multiple downtown intersections waiting only for jaywalkers.

Q: Who has the right of way in a bike lane, a pedestrian or a bicyclist?

A: Pedestrians can’t use bike lanes like extra sidewalks, Witt said.

People crossing a bike lane on foot should treat it like a regular street lane, police said, and rules for traffic signals apply.

The sidewalk is a different issue regarding pedestrian right-of-way. Every person riding a bike on a sidewalk or public path shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian and must give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian, according to police.

Q: Can a jogger run on the road when there is a perfectly good sidewalk directly next to them?

A: Not legally.

“It is not legal for pedestrians to walk or jog in the street if a sidewalk is available,” Seattle Department of Transportation spokeswoman Peg Nelson said. “Any enforcement of this practice would have to come from the Seattle Police Department.”

A runner could get a $56 ticket for violating section 11.42.040 of the Seattle Municipal Code, police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said. Pedestrians also could get ticketed for facing the wrong direction.

“If it’s something that we see and we’re not responding to a 911 emergency, it is something we would be able to take enforcement action on,” he said. “Whether that enforcement action is in form of contact and a warning or issuance of a citation ultimately is up to officer discretion.”